Getting More Grace in Your Life – Part 2

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Who could stand before God without grace? The grace that Jesus demonstrated on the cross was given to us ‘…while we were still sinners.’ (Romans 5:8) so we can’t be unwilling to show this grace to friends, family or strangers. Let that boundary-breaking new start from God guide all your interactions with others… Following yesterday, here are three more ways to practically demonstrate grace to others. 2) Celebrate them. Don’t take it upon yourself to try and change others into whom you think they should be – the work of change is for God. What would it mean to step back and celebrate the good in those who challenge you? Ask yourself how you could do that, for example, in a conversation. (But remember that it might have to start first in changing your attitude about others.) 3) Don’t condemn them. The Pharisees saw only the stagnant worst in the woman caught in adultery, but Jesus saw what she could become if she was shown a bit of grace. He picked up on her sin, but still said “I do not condemn you… go, but do not sin again.” (John 8:11). Generous grace is not just about ignoring sin, but letting people see that they can become the ‘new creatures’ that God has called us to be. 4) Forgive them. We can be really hurt by others, but by resenting that we only add injury to our own insult. Be quick to take things to God and just drop them, for your sake also. Through God’s grace …”What left a mark no longer stings, because grace makes beauty out of ugly things.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me see the good in others as You see in me, help me forgive the ugly and see beauty of what can be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen